Health blog Category: Physical Therapy
Keeping up with Home Exercise Programs
Bodily maintenance is important for you whether you’ve finished a course of physical therapy, or you’re currently attending physical therapy.
It is important to continue at home exercises to reach the goals you have set for yourself and maintain the strength you have gained. Now is a good time to make time everyday to do some exercises from your HEP to maintain strength that you have built up.
What is Your HEP?
Read full blogCOVID-19: Preventing the Spread 101
Steps to a Virus Free Clinic!
At LSTC we take pride in having a germ and virus free clinic all the time. We do this through cleaning and disinfecting equipment, exam tables and counters, washing our hands frequently, and staying home when sick.
Several times throughout the day we clean and disinfect:
- Check-in and Check-out counters
- Door handles
- Waiting room chairs
- Bathrooms
- Computers and desk working spaces
- Exam room tables (sanitized after every use)
- Gym equipment (sanitized after every use)
- Exam tables in the gym (sanitized after every use)
- Phones
- Our hands
With the outbreak of this virus, we have increased the frequency of this to insure that COVID-19 as well as other viruses do not spread.
Read full blogThe Fancy Word for Knee Discomfort
Patellofemoral pain is a general term used to describe pain that resides in the front of the knee and around the kneecap, also known as the patella. Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, PFPS, is also known as both runners’ and jumpers’ knee due to the type of athletes who commonly complain of the problem. Based on the nicknames of PFPS, most people tend to believe that it can only occur in athletes or those who participate in high intensity sports, however it can also occur in the older and more sedentary populations.
Read full blogThe Culprits of Back Issues
Back pain can arise due to a number of different reasons:
- It can be of traumatic origin, such as a car accident or a high impact fall.
- It can be degenerative in nature, occurring as the vertebral bones become arthritic and the joints they form no longer move as well.
- It can be postural, developing when poor muscle control causes nerves that emerge off the spine to become irritated.
Journey to Becoming a Certified Athletic Trainer
What are Certified Athletic Trainers?
Athletic trainers (ATs) are highly qualified, multi-skilled health care professionals who render service or treatment, under the direction of or in collaboration with a physician, in accordance with their education, training and the state’s statutes, rules and regulations. As a part of the health care team, services provided by athletic trainers include primary care, injury and illness prevention, wellness promotion and education, emergent care, examination and clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. The NATA Code of Ethics states the principles of ethical behavior that should be followed in the practice of athletic training.
Read full blogThe Truth Behind Our Hip Pain
Causes of Hip Pain
There are multiple structures in and around the hip joint that can produce pain in this area of the body:
- Labrum– the ring of cartilage around the rim of the socket of the hip joint. Tears can produce symptoms of catching, locking or giving out of the hip.
- Hip abnormalities– abnormalities in the shape, size, or position of the ball or socket of the hip joint that can cause instability of the joint, pinching of the hip and a deep pain.
Why We Should Strengthen Our Hips
Many people suffer from low back and hip pain and don’t even realize how much hip strength can influence these conditions. The hip abductors are one of the most influential muscle groups in the body and are an integral part of your body’s overall health.
What are our hip abductors?
The hip abductors consist of:
- The gluteus medius
- The gluteus minimus
- The tensor fasciae latae
These muscles primarily move the leg away from the midline of the body and help rotate the leg at the hip joint.
Read full blogThe Chain to Low Back Pain
How Much Does Back Pain Impact Us?
Chronic back pain and discomfort is a debilitating condition that will affect the majority of Americans at some point during their life. In fact, chronic back pain is one of the leading reasons people go to the doctor and employees miss work. Chronic back pain can make it difficult to walk, sit, drive, and perform routine activities such as laundry, and dishes; to name a few.
What are the symptoms of chronic back pain?
Read full blogOsteoarthritis VS Rheumatoid Arthritis
What is arthritis and who can get it?
Arthritis is actually not a single disease, but rather an informal way of referring to joint pain or inflammation. Two of the most prevalent types of arthritis are, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. While arthritis is often associated with increased age, people of all ages, sexes, and lifestyles can develop arthritis.
Common Causes of Arthritis
The most common cause of arthritis is just the normal wear and tear we put on our joints throughout our lives, known as osteoarthritis. Any injury or illness to a joint can further exacerbate this natural breakdown of cartilage.
Read full blogRepetitive Motions and Elbow Conditions
Tennis Elbow and Golfer’s Elbow are both overuse injuries that are caused by any activity that requires repetitive motion of the arm and wrist. Repetitive motions using forehand/backhand are common in cooks, painters, carpenters, plumbers or computer/mouse work. Either one of these conditions can also develop from everyday chores such as raking, gardening, chopping wood, or shoveling. Both of these conditions are forms or epicondylitis, which is a medical term for inflammation of a tendon that attaches to bone (Epicondyle) of the elbow joint.
Common symptoms of Tennis Elbow/Lateral Epicondylitis include:
- Pain that radiates from the outside of your elbow and down your forearm and wrist
- Tenderness on the outside of your elbow (May be constant or present with activity)
- Weakness in your forearm or a weak grip
- Pain when reaching, lifting or when you grip things, twist something or, if you play tennis, (especially with backhand strokes)
- Pain when you extend your wrist
Common symptoms of Golfer’s Elbow/Medial Epicondylitis include:
- Pain and tenderness on the inside of your elbow
- Pain that radiates down your arm from the inside of your elbow
- Weakness in your hand or wrist
- Numbness or tingling in your ring and little fingers
- Pain when you grip or twist things as is common in the golf swing
- Pain when you flex your wrist
